Discharge valve



May 25, 1942- w. F. PETERSON E-r AL, 2,283,945

DISCHARGE VALVE Filed Aug. l1, 1937 f fia-nm fi-iff@ ma gmc/141006 mim/M136 Patented May 26, 1942 DISCHARGE VALVE Walker F. Peterson and Albert U.Y Walter, Baltimore, Md., assignors to. Quiet Flow Devices,l Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application august 11, 1937, serial No. 158,622

6 Claims.

This invention relates to discharge valves, and is'especially desirable in Aball cocks which are used as float-control discharge valves for ,establishing liquid levels in tanks.

When, for example, a discharge valve is located between a source of supply and a tank tobe filled therefrom, and a ow-retarding device is placed downstreamward of the valve (forquieting the flow therethrough) certain other conditions of noise and operation, particularly with varying pressures may be encountered and -must be provided for before quiet and most satisfactory operation can be obtained.

One feature of the invention is lthe provision of a means to prevent chatter of the valve at final closing.

With this and other features as objects in view, as will appear in the course of the followi-ng specication and claims, an illustrative form of employing the invention is set out on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a conventionalized view of a flush tank for a toilet, with a valve of the present nature employed therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the supply pipe, with parts thereof in section.

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. l

Figure l is a perspective view of the lower end of the supply pipe, showing a silencing device thereon.

In the drawing, a conventional flush tank I of the type used for toilets is illustrated as having a pipe connection 2, commonly called a tail piece, by which it is connected to the closet bowl. The Vupper end of this flushing pipe is normally closed by the flush valve 3 which may be operated for flushing by the usual trip lever (not shown). The flush tank is to be filled with water to a predetermined level, this water being introduced from a water supply connection 4 through the so-called supply pipe 5 which extends upwardly-in the flush tank and has at its upper end, a ball cock body Ii rigidly secured by sweating thereto. In the body 6 is vertically movable the valve closure member l.

Further, water is delivered through a so-called refill tube 8, secured in la threaded boss 9 of the ball cock body 6 and extending over for discharge into the overflow tube'IlJ. Hence, the water from the refill tubeV 8 is passed by the overflow tube I0 to the bowl.

The valve closure member I is actuated by the oat II, which is connected by a oat stem IIa and the linkages described hereinafter, for forcing the valve closure member 'I downwardly and into closed position when the wate'r level in the tank has risen to the predetermined level.

The water which passes the valve closure member I in an open position of the latter, moves partly through the rell tube 8 while the bulk thereof is discharged through the so-called drop tube or discharge tube I2 into the tank. The discharge tube I2 is illustrated as being a flattened tube of the type described and claimed in our Patent 2,089,223, granted August 10, 1937, and functions as a flow retarding device. However, any other type of ow retarding device may be incorporated in the device downstreamward of the seat.

In the form illustrated in the drawing, the ball cock body 6 is formed integrally with a bifurcated bracket I6 which forms a' yoke having a pivot pin I5 extending between the bifurcations.

An actuated lever I4 is provided at one end with a slot `I3 which slidably engages the pivot 'pin I5 in establishing a substantially fixed fulcrum for movement of the actuated lever Ill.V The actuated lever I4 extends above the valve closure member 1, and is formed with .a downwardly projecting rounded portion v32 whichV engages the upper surface -of the valve closure member. rllhe other end of the actuated lever I4 has a slot 33 for receiving the pin I'I of the actuating lever end structure I8. n f

The actuating lever comprises the end structure I8-which usually hasinternal threads |801. for receiving the threaded end of the oat stem I Ia, or is otherwise secured thereto.

In this illustrated form, also,` theV ball cock A* I9, 2U, these apertures being spacedat different distances from the pin I'I. A pivotpin 2| may be passed through selected 'l apertures, that is, through apertures I9, 22 ori 2U, 23. It is pre'- ferred to form thepivot pin with threads'on one end, and to thread the openings I9, 2,8 inV one of the bifurcations, as a means of securing the parts in'the desired relative positions.

The bracket 24 has a projection 31 which operates as a stop for limiting the movement of the end structure I8.

It will be noted that the apertures 22, 23 are not arranged with their axes in a horizontal plane, but with the outer aperture 23 below the aperture 22, so to speak: this arrangement is effective in association with the stop 31, to prevent disengagement of the levers in the maximum positions of operation thereof, while assuring limited sizes of the parts and freedom of operation of the pin I1 in the slot 33 so that the levers operate smoothly even in the extreme positions of movement.

The actuated lever I4 is in effect self-centering. The direction of the walls of the slct I3 is upward, and the angle A between the direction of the slot I3 and the axis of the pivots I5, I1 is illustrated as being about 135, and may be at any angle substantially greater than 45, and substantially less than 186. Since the water pressure operating upon the valve closure member 1 causes atendency toward upward movement thereof, this force is transmitted to the actuated lever I4, and the aforesaid positioning of the slot I3 causes the lever to assume and maintain a position relative to its pivot I5, by which a substantially constant fulcrum distance is preserved for the projection 32 and the slot 33.

In ball cocks where a device is incorporated down-streamward of the seat for the retarding of the flow, it is necessary to provide the bypass connection for the refill below such retarding device, or take it off the main chamber of the ball cock, where there is a substantial pressure.

As many retarding devices are incorporated in the discharge tube, it is difficult to make the connection for the refill water down-streamward of the retarding device. In such cases, the connection for the refill is ordinarily taken off the main chamber and throttling means for controlling the flow of refill are provided. Such throttling means generally causes a great deal of noise. In the present invention the control of the flow of refill is provided in a simple, inexpensive and quiet manner.

As shown in Fig. 3, the side boss 9 of the valve closure body B has a threaded cavity 26 for receiving the refill tube 8, this cavity being joined by the port 25, with the passage formed in the valve body 6 for receiving the valve closure member 1. This passage extends from the seat 36, which is engaged by the usual rubber washer 28 of the valve closure member 1 and in shutting oif the flow from the supply pipe 5. Immediately adjacent the seat, the ball cock body has a chamber passage 34 which leads laterally and has a downward threaded opening for receiving the upper end `of the drop tube I2. From the upper surface of the chamber 34, the passage 35 isfof uniform diameter and loosely corresponds to the valve closure member 1.

Above the port 25, the valve closure member is provided with a groove for receiving the sealing ring 1a. Below this sealing ring 1a, the valve Y closure member 1 is provided with grooving 21 to form collector rings for carrying the refill water to the port 25. These grooves are preferably formed as a plurality of endless peripheral grooves, or as helical grooves as formed by cutting a thread on the valve closure member 1 at the proper points thereof. By construction, the valve closure member 1 has a certain amount of play for mechanical necessities, and this construction of the grooves assures aproper supply of water to the refill tube, regardless of the eccentric position actually occupied by the valve closure member 1.

The quantity of this flow is dependent on the cross sectional area of the grooves opposite the port 25 or, in case a single small groove is used, upon the cross sectional area of said groove.

In particular, it is preferred to form these grooves by a V-threading tool which provides the successive peripheral grooves or thread grooves at a spacing of, say, one thirty-second of an inch, with the individual grooves being cut to a depth of ten thousandths of an individual width of eleven thousandths at the outer surface of the valve closure member 1. Thus, at portions or lands having a width of about twenty thousandths of an inch are provided between the adjacent grooves, which maintain a good bearing surface between the closure member 1 and the passage 35.

In the preferred form, the seat washer 28 is retained in the lower cavity of the valve closure member 1 by a screw 29. The threaded hole for receiving this screw is, however, continued upwardly to provide an air chamber 30 which is 1ocated at the axis of the valve closure member 1, and extends to within a short distance of the upper surface thereof. This air chamber may be formed by drilling a hole of approximately 0.120 inch diameter. Communication between this air chamber and the chamber 34 is secured by a cross hole 3| located just above the upper end of the screw 29. This hole 3| may be about one sixteenth of4 an inch in diameter, so that turbulence in the chamber 34 will not displace the air from the chamber 30.

Disassembly is easily accomplished by unscrewing the pivot pin 2I, and tilting the end structure I8 so that the pin I1 may be slid out of the slot in the actuated lever I4. This actuated lever I4 is then rocked in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2)V and similarly separated from the pin I5. The assembly of the closure member 1 may now be withdrawn. It is now possible to inspect and replace the seat washer 28, if necessary. The parts can now be reassembled by reverse operations.

The distance between the pins I5 and I1, when the axes of pivots I5, I1 and 2I are in a plane, is sufficiently greater than the distance between the slots I3 and 33 to permit free movement; and the lengths of the slots are made great enough to prevent disengagement from the pins at the extreme positions of normal movements of the parts.

When the illustrated ball cock, for example, is in operation, the flushing is accomplished by raising the flush valveV 3 in the usual way, so that the contents ofthe ush tank are discharged. The oat II sinks and therewith causes a counterclockwise rocking of the actuated lever I 4, so that the valve closure member 1 can rise under the water pressure, and water flows past the Valve seat 26. The major part of this water moves through the discharge chamber 34 and the drop tube I2, and enters the flush tank. A minor part of the water escapes upwardly along the wall of the closure member 1 and enters the collector grooves 21, and thus passes to the port 25 and through the refill tube 8, being discharged into the closet bowl during the period of operation of the ballcock. When the ilush tank has completed its discharge, the discharge valve 3 becomes seated again, and thereafter the water entering the tank begins to restore the Vliquid contents of the same to the predetermined water level. After the valve 3 closes, syphoning action from the bowl may remove so much water that a further quantity must be introduced, and this is accomplished by the action of the refill tube 8, until the ballcock is closed again.

As the water level rises, the oat II is raised withv it, and operates through the lever system to produce a downward movement of the valve closure member 1. Upward movement of the float II, as the water rises in the tank, is resisted by the pressure in the chamber 34 (due to retarding device downstreamward) acting on the valve member 7. Therefore, with the proper leverage adjustment, a substantial but not excessive portion of the float I I is submerged before any movement occurs and remains so submerged until the valve member I starts to reduce the flow through the seat and consequently the pressure in the chamber 34. When this occurs, the pressure against the valve member I is reduced and there is suicient buoyancy in the float II to rise almost instantly and a sufficient distance to effect final closure of the valve member on the seat without a further rise of the level of the water in the tank.

If the leverage is sufficiently great to effect closure at the higher pressures, it is so great thatv suflicient submergence of the float II in the initial stages and later utilization of this extra submergence in a quick nal closure, is not obtained at lower pressures. As pressures of 20 to 125 pounds per sq. in. are ordinarily encountered and as the adjustmentV in leverage by changing the length of the float arm IIa is limited because of the size of the tank andthe other fixtures therein, it is necessary to provide leverage adjustment in the linkage of the ball cock in order to obtain this quick or snap. shut-off over this wide range of pressures. Such quick or snap shut-off is desirable not only in eliminating the noise, but also the wire drawing at and corrosion of the seat which occurs during the final closing period of the valve and which, in the ordinary valve, is of long duration. It will be noted that the quick or snap shut-off can not be obtained in a ball cock unless a ow-retarding device, downstreamward of the seat, is incorporated therein.

It willA further be noted that, by moving the pivot pin 2| from the innermost apertures I9, 22 to the outer apertures 20, 23, the leverage of the float Il upon the actuated lever I4 is materially reduced. We have found that when this reduction is about 33%, satisfactory operation can be obtained over the above range of pressures.

Chatter quite frequently occurs in ball cocks and other valves as the stem approaches its seat to close the valve. One cause of chatter is due to the momentum of the high velocities of the water in the hush tube tending to pull the valve off 'its seat as the valve closes. We have found that by incorporation of an air chamber inor connected to any point of the main chamber 34 of the ballcock, that this chatter is eliminated. This air chamber can be quite small and its position in or the location of its connection to the main chamber 34 is immaterial. Because of the high turbulence in the chamber 34, it is difficult to prevent the air from being washed out of the air chamber. This tendency can be materially reduced by making the connection between the air chamber and the main-chamber 34 relatively Small. The location of this air chamber in the stem as illustrated in Figure 2 is simple, inexpensive and very effective.

As shown in Fig. 4, it is preferred to incorporate a further silencing device as a part of the valve assembly, to overcome'noises created during` the refilling period. In our prior Patents 2,037,737; 2,089,223 and 2,089,224, we have described devices for controlling the flow of liquids with substantial quietness. We have found, however, that noises may arise at other points of the system altho these noises are vto be distinguished from those produced in retarding or throttling liquids under the conditions stated in said patents. For example, when a jet of water at high-velocity encounters a surface, noise is produced. The velocity referred to is notA that at the point of discharge from the nozzle, but at the point of impact with the surface. Although the velocity of the discharged stream decreases rapidly, as the jet mixes with water already present in the chamber, yet space and constructional considerations often require that the drop tube I2 shall open downwardly, and that its lower end shall be but a small distance from the floor of the tank.

According to the present invention, noise at this point is substantially reduced and usually eliminated by providing an impact surface oi a definite character for receiving the jet. The character of this surface is of primary importance in determining the critical velocity of the jet at which the noise occurs.

It is preferred toY provide this impact surface Yat a slight angle to the direction of the jet, and to provide it with la roughening which causes an action in the nature of diffusion, so that the jet is broken up into innumerable fine streams which dissipate into the main body of water without noise. The surface of castings as ordinarily produced is not sufficiently rough or sharp in texture, so that the noise can be eliminated thereby: and this is particularly true after the casting has been rumbled or sand blasted in the usual way. As pointed cut in ourprior patents,

various factors influence the critical velocity,

It has been found, however, that if the impact surface is roughened, in that it has elevations and depressions throughout its effective area of the nature of the surface of ordinary sand paper of the types known commercially as #3/0 to #3, or similar to those resulting from cutting full or partial depth grooves with the adjacent grooves spaced 16 to.80 to the inch, or similar to the surface of a single or double cut i'lle with a coarseness from bastard to dead smooth, or a knurled surface of like spacing, quietness is attained with all normal supply pressures of water while employing the structure illustrated in the drawing: and it is obvious this quietness can likewise be attained with similar arrangements.

It hasI been found that the minimum depth of the depressions between the elevations should -not be less than 0.005 inch.`

axis of the drop tube l2. In this illustrated form, the roughening is shown as a series of parallel ribs and grooves spaced 20 ribs to the inch, with the grooves having a depth about 0.020 inch.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited solely to the illustrative form shown, but that it may be employed in many Ways within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: l

1. A ball cock assembly having a valve body providing a valve seat. a discharge chamber for receiving water which passes said valve seat, a bore above said chamber communicating with the chamber, and a lateral port from said bore; a refill tube communicating with said lateral port; a valve closure member movable in said bore for closing and opening passage through said seat, said closure member loosely fitting the bore between said chamber and said port so that pressure in said chamber is effective to cause water to move toward said port in the restricted passageway between the bore and closure member and is restricted in its said move ment by the presence of the closure member in said bore, said closure member having axially spaced grooves therein presented opposite said port in the opened position of the ball cock for providing collector rings for bringing water to said port, sealing means on the closure member between said port and the open end of the bore, and iloat-controllable means for moving saidy closure member.

2. A ball cock assembly having a valve body providing a valve seat, a discharge chamber above said valve seat for receiving water which passes the same and having a discharge connection, a bore communicating with and extending upwardly from the chamber independently of the discharge connection, and a lateral port from said bore; a rell tube communicating with said lateral port; a valve closure member movable in said bore for closing and opening a passage through said seat, said closure member loosely tting the bore between said chamber and port and having axially spaced grooves therein presented opposite said port in the opened position of the ball cock for providing collector rings for bringing water to said port, said closure member including means closely fitting the bore above said port for preventing leakage along said bore, and float-controllable means for moving said closure member.

3. A ball cock assembly having a valve body providing a valve seat, a discharge chamber for receiving water which passes said seat, a conduit for delivering water from said chamber and including ow-retarding means having the effeet of creating back pressure in said discharge chamber while the valve seat is open, a bore communicating with the chamber, and a lateral port from said bore; a refill tube communicating with said port; a valve closure member movable in said bore for closing and opening passage through said seat, said closure member loosely fitting the bore between said chamber and said` fective to cause water to move along said bore toward said port, said closure member having axially spaced grooves therein presented opposite said port in the opened position of the ball cock for providing collector rings for bringing water to said port; and float-controllable means for moving said closure member.

4. A ball cock assembly having a valve body providing a valve seat, a discharge chamber for receiving water which passes said valve seat, and a bore communicating with the discharge chamber; a conduit for delivering water from said chamber and including flow-retarding means having the effect of creating back pressure in said discharge chamber While the valve seat is open, a valve closure member movable in said bore for closing and opening water passage at said seat, said closure member having an air chamber located wholly therein, and a passage from said air chamber which is continuously open to said discharge chamber for cushioning changes in the water pressure in said discharge chamber; and means for moving said valve closure member.

5. A ball cock assembly having a valve body providing a valve seat, a discharge chamber for receiving water which passes said valve seat, and a bore communicating with the discharge chamber, a valve closure member movable in said bore for closing and opening water passage at said seat, said valve closure member including a sealing washer at its end for presentation against the valve seat for closing the same, said closure member having a substantially axial bore providing a closed air chamber located Wholly within the closure member and a passage from said second named bore which is continuously open into said discharge chamber for cushioning changes in the water pressure in said discharge chamber, the lower end of the second named bore being threaded, a screw for securing said washer and engaged in the threaded end of the second named bore for closing the lower end of the air chamber; and means for moving said valve closure member.

6. A valve assembly for controlling the ow of water, comprising a valve body providing a valve seat, a reciprocable valve closure member coacting with said seat, a discharge chamber for receiving water which passes said closure member, means for closing the closure member against the seat, a flow-retarding device for restricting the ow of water from said discharge chamber and in which at the full rate of ow the water moves with a momentum eective to produce chatter of the member upon the seat during the closing thereof by said means, and meansproviding an air chamber separate from the discharge chamber and connected therewith by a restricted orifice near the bottom of the air chamber and thereby constructed and arranged to be effective for eliminating chatter of said valve closure member upon said seat during the operation of said closing means.

WALKER F. PETERSON. ALBERT U. WALTER. 

